The Chinese Dream at Risk: Economic Struggles of the Next Generation

With rising unemployment and stagnating wages, the aspirations of the younger generation in China are increasingly thwarted, highlighting a growing disparity within society.

Since the 1980s, more than 800 million Chinese people have lifted themselves out of poverty, and the country saw the emergence of a robust middle class numbering around 400 million. Cities expanded, and for millions, attending college became a tangible goal. However, China's once-booming economic development is now facing a downturn, primarily impacting its working-class youth, who are increasingly finding their pathways to success blocked.

Individuals like Boris Gao exemplify this struggle. After his parents lost their jobs in state-owned enterprises, Gao's family faced financial difficulties that forced his mother to cut costs, even canceling a text message service that provided critical school notifications. Driven to succeed, Gao graduated from college in 2016, and later pursued a graduate program in Hong Kong, yet his job search has been discouraging.

Since 2024, his experiences with prospective employers have been riddled with challenges. He was asked to work without pay during a trial period by one company and left another position due to unpaid wages. A rejection based purely on the conclusion that his overseas education made him politically unreliable serves as a stark reflection of the barriers he faces.

In a culture that often equates struggle with personal inadequacy, Gao's story highlights a deeper societal issue. During a job interview, the impact of his family's past job status weighed heavily against him. “To them, perseverance is a defect,” Gao reflected, revealing the harsh realities of a society grappling with its values in the face of economic stagnation. As China's youth navigate this challenging landscape, the ideal of the Chinese Dream risks slipping further out of reach.